Bourbon Showdown Podcast

Every summer, the spirits world turns its attention to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail , one of the industry's most influential celebrations of cocktails, education, and hospitality. On this episode of The Bourbon Showdown , Jesse Jones sits down with Charlotte Voisey , Executive Director of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, to talk about what makes this event so special and why 2026...

Greg King returns to The Bourbon Showdown for a deep dive into the legendary world of Lagavulin . From Scotland's whisky regions and what defines a true Scotch to the history behind one of Islay's most iconic distilleries, Greg shares the stories behind every sip. Along the way, we taste Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat, the 2025 12 Year Old Special Release "Grain & Embers,"...

Nicole Austin returns to The Bourbon Showdown to discuss the launch of Blade & Bow's new 12-Year Solera Reserve. We dive into the heritage of the Blade & Bow brand, the development of this highly anticipated release, and Nicole's approach to crafting one of the year's most exciting new bourbons. Then, of course, we pop the top on this new expression and take it for a test drive...

On this week's episode of The Bourbon Showdown, Jesse heads across the pond to Scotland with Greg King, Diageo's Single Malt Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador, for an in-depth look at one of Scotland's most beloved whisky's: Oban. As Season 12 continues its exploration of world-class whiskies beyond bourbon, Greg guides the conversation through the fundamentals of Scotch whisky, what...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, we head back to Scotland with Diageo Luxury Brand Ambassador Ewan Morgan for a masterclass on one of the world's most iconic single malts: Talisker. Ewan takes us deep into the history of the Talisker brand, the science of ultra-aged whisky, and what it takes to guide a spirit to 30, 45, and even 47 years of maturation. Of course, we don't just talk about...

Season 12 starts with a trip to Ireland as Jesse Jones welcomes Redbreast Irish Whiskey Master Blender Dave McCabe to The Bourbon Showdown Podcast! In this episode, Dave McCabe takes us deep into the world of Redbreast and Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, exploring the rich history behind the brand, the art and science of blending, and how Redbreast continues to maintain the craftsmanship that has...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast , we welcome Bardstown Bourbon Company back to the show as Director of Distillation & Head Distiller Nick Smith joins us in Charlotte, NC to talk all things Bardstown. Nick walks us through his journey to the head distiller chair and shares how Bardstown Bourbon Company has built a reputation for exceptional whiskey through transparency, innovation, an...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast , we pop the top with the team behind the whiskey brand that has been voted the “Best in the World” — Never Say Die Bourbon . Brian Luftman from Lexington and his UK counterpart Martha Dalton sit down with us to do a deep dive on the incredible origin story behind this award-winning brand — a story that truly has everything. From horse racing and royalty t...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast , Jesse sits down with whiskey maker Ari Sussman of Whiskey JYPSI to pop the top and pour through the new LEGACY Batch 003: The Declaration . Jesse and Ari dive into the brand’s history and explore how Ari and Eric Church have worked tirelessly since day one to craft a true bourbon symphony—creating a volumetric, 3D whiskey experience with every release. L...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast , Jesse Jones sits down with — 8th Generation Master Distiller of James B. Beam Distilling Co., Freddie Noe! Jesse and Freddie dive deep into the Beam legacy while sipping on the ultra-rare Knob Creek 21 Year. Freddie shares his journey to the Master Distiller chair, the philosophy behind Booker’s, Knob Creek, Little Book, and his experimental Infinity Ser...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown, we’re joined by Kaveh Zamanian , Founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery . We crack open the new Amrulé Rye, finished in Maple Brûlé casks, and dive into Kaveh’s journey from hospitality and psychology to building one of Kentucky’s most distinctive whiskey brands. We talk about the evolving whiskey landscape, what sets Rabbit Hole apart, and how thoughtful branding pai...

This week we welcome Majure Markow and Old Soul Bourbon back to The Bourbon Showdown for another deep dive into Mississippi whiskey, music, and the stories that shape both. The conversation ranges from Old Soul’s journey to the blues-inspired Tintype Series #3 release, featuring bluesman Kenny Brown, and the music infused whiskey making ideology behind the brand. Jesse and Majure taste through Tin...

This week we welcome Master Distiller Becky Harris from Catoctin Creek to the show to talk all things Virginia whiskey! We go through not just the history of Catoctin Creek but Becky takes me through the history of whiskey in Virginia! It is a fantastic conversation filled with whiskey history, whiskey production and of course good people sharing pours! We dive into some delicious Catoctin Rye sta...

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast , I’m joined by Murphy Quint , Master Blender & Director of Operations at Cedar Ridge Distillery to talk about the tastiest whiskey coming out of Iowa! Murphy’s been in the game since before “craft” was king, and he walks me through Cedar Ridge’s journey—from proving great whiskey could come from outside Kentucky and Tennessee to becoming the number on...

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast , I’m joined by Kevin Aslan , head distiller and head blender for Hirsch Whiskey , and we go full whiskey-geek. We dig into how Hirsch got its start, Kevin’s journey into the brand, and the mythology behind the name (no spoilers—you’ve gotta listen). This is one of those brands that lived before the craft boom and thrived after it, and Kevin brings that pe...

This week on The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, Jesse sits down with the one and only Adam Edwards of Heaven Hill for a pour-packed conversation recorded in the VIP suite at T he Vintage Whiskey & Cigar Bar in Charlotte . Adam and Jesse dive into Heaven Hill history, the whiskey journey, and how the experience around the glass shapes the whiskey inside it—all while drinking through some phenomenal...

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we welcome the one and only Dr. Patrick Heist of Wilderness Trail! This episode is a full-on master class for whiskey geeks—packed with fermentation talk, production deep dives, yeast strains, sweet mash, and the story of how Dr. Pat and his partner Shane Baker became known as the “Science Guys of Bourbon.” We walk through Wilderness Trail’s entire core l...

This week on the Bourbon Showdown Podcast, we welcome back Pete Barger and Southern Distilling Company to talk all things American Single Malt and North Carolina whiskey! Fresh off being named Distillery of the Year by the American Distilling Institute , Pete takes us through everything Southern Distilling has cooking right now—from their new American Single Malt to their Cask Strength, honey-barr...

This week we welcome Bruce Russell and Wild Turkey back to the show to talk all things Master’s Keep! It’s been a minute since I sat down with Bruce, but we figured the last Master’s Keep was a good reason to get together and talk some Turkey! Him and I discuss what went into this final Master’s Keep: Beacon , how it is truly a family affair and acts as the proper send off to a collection his fath...

This week we welcome Penelope Bourbon and long time friend of the show Co-founder and master blender, Danny Polise back to the Bourbon Showdown! We go through the brands history, some of the mega whiskey hits they have had, how they are absolutely rocking the ready-to-drink category in 2025 and of course their current line-up of Estate Collection whiskey! We pop the top on their new Estate Collect...

This week we welcome 1 5 Stars Founders Rick and Ricky Johnson to The Bourbon Showdown to talk about the newest addition to the brand, First West Bourbon ! They walk me through what led them to create these new whiskeys and the thought process that continues to drive innovation at 15 Stars, we talk mash bill, we talk age statements, we talk blending and barrel finishes and then we drink that whisk...

This week we welcome Dan Callaway from Bardstown Bourbon Company to The Bourbon Showdown Podcast, him and I crack open their new Discovery Series 13 and the Ferrand II from their Collaborative Series as he walks me through what went into each expression, the history of the company, his path to whiskey and what we can expect next from Bardstown Bourbon Company.

This week, we welcome Chief Blender, Meghan Ireland and Research & Development Distiller Mitch Mahar from WhistlePig to the Bourbon Showdown to talk all things Boss Hog! We dive into the new Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame , and let me tell you guys, this one is something special! We drink through this Mesoamerican inspired rye whiskey that’s been  finished in a pulque curado de cacao barrel...

This week, we welcome Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall back to the show! We sit down for a big pour of Woodford’s new Batch Proof Rye and she walks us through how it came to fruition and all the amazing things she’s been doing since becoming Master Distiller. It’s a Batch Proof Rye conversation on this week’s Bourbon Showdown Podcast!

This week we welcome Joseph A. Magnus back to the show which means the return of Master Blender Nancy Fraley! This episode she brings with her Head Distiller Will Fabry and the three of us sit down and talk all things whiskey and all things Joseph A. Magnus! Nancy of course synonymous with good whiskey across the industry and Will, coming out of the gate strong and taking the future reigns at Magn...